Category Archives: Bikes

This is the second cycling related post in as many weeks. Please don’t start to think, dear readers, that I only post about bikes; I don’t, but they have always been a big part of my life and probably always will be. One was a really big part of my life, until it was half-inched from my back Garden. Now traditionally, as those of you who reside in London will know, whenever your bike is pinched, you hotfoot it down to Brick Lane Market as early as your hangover will allow on a Sunday to look for the toerag that stole it trying to peddle (!) your beloved Velo on to an unsuspecting trendy. So, bleary eyed and at a keen half seven in the morning, I rocked up to one of the only places in London where the archetypal London ‘Geezer’ and his arch rival, the lens-less glass toting hipster blend into a melting pot of madness and money spending.

But apparently this has all changed now, the bike thieving toerags of our fair city frequent a different hole: DAGENHAM. Oh, bloody marvellous thought I. Not wanting to spend my next Sunday in Dagenham, I started looking into other things I could do to make the trip worthwhile and it turns out, that there is infact something wonderful there; Dagenham BMX pool.

It’s a project somewhat similar to the Tunnel Jam that some friends of mine built last year, and put on, again, by Nike 6.0, but this time it’s not in a tunnel, it’s in a disused swimming pool. I’m not a BMX’er myself, but know lots of people that are, and know that the quality and style of the build that they’ve put on here will please them greatly. And best of all? It’s free until June 12th. So, not only do Dagenham residents get to see world class BMX’ers risk life and limb, they get to have a go on world class ramps in a building that was otherwise going to be demolished. And there’s a bloody BRILLIANT video to promote it too:

Considering how many times i’ve been to this place, and how long i’ve known about it, I feel a little ashamed to be only just posting about it, but then again, I am looking into rebranding atomicpinball to something like ‘betterlatethannever.com’ as it seems to be the case with most introductions to most posts. ANYWAY, point is, there’s a bunch of guys, on my doorstep, doing something genuinely brilliant and innovative and I want to shout about it, from the top of a mountain. Except there aren’t any mountains nearby. There’s Telegraph Hill, which is more of a hill, but that just won’t do. So I guess i’ll have to stick with the internet, so imagine this as my soapbox, perched precariously on top of Telegraph Hill. Fitting, as it was also the site of one of the first Semaphore Telegraph Stations in London, and the internet enables one to shout about whatever we damn well please, to millions of people the world over (so it’s a good soapbox in case you missed the reference)

Anyway. Since hearing of the honeybee network out in India, my younger brothers fascination with the internet of things and the way that consumerism is changing at such a rapid rate; I’ve been unable to avoid being interested in the socially aware businesses that are popping up almost as quickly as the traditional marketplace is falling down. It’s time for change, and these guys have captured the zeitgeist; nail. on. head.

Not only is their business’ product bikes, an inherently green and sustainable mode of transport, they also recycle said bikes, and restore them to their former glory. ‘Loads of people do that!’ I hear you say, and yes, you are right, I am indeed one of them! But loads of people don’t take the time out of their lives to teach disadvantaged people how to do this, so that those disadvantaged people can go on to build better lives for themselves, as well better bikes for other people. But these guys do. And they work in Deptford, which is near my house. So ha.

The project is circular in it’s brilliance, it contributes to solving about a billion (well not quite that many) issues in one fell swoop. They take old, broken bikes, that would otherwise need to be recycled, and breath new life into them, collaborating with disadvantaged people whilst doing so (so that disadvantaged people learn the skills required to do this for themselves) Therefore eradicating the need for a shopper to go into a shop, buy a bike and increase his/her carbon footprint with one that’s been made in China, shipped over here and then bought from a great big warehouse that is killing five polar bears an hour. These bikes are sold through a process of consultation, and personal interaction, something we screenagers are increasingly bereft of. In doing so, they increase social interaction, which subsequently has twofold benefits; the disadvantaged person gets social interaction in a professional context, and the consumer gets some social interaction as well as a pleasant shopping experience, something that he/ she is probabaly lacking in (on the assumption that he/she is a London-based commuter) And as if that wasn’t enough, for the price of an ‘off the peg’ cycle, you get a lovingly restored one, which teaches the customer the value of beautiful, quality products with a story.

At this point I wish I was a graphic designer, so I could make a circular diagram to show you this, but you’re a creative enough bunch, i’m sure you can figure it out. Anyway, enough eulogising; you should go there, and buy a bike there, and help make the world a better place whilst doing it.

This was sent to me over a week ago, by benjamella, who interned at Wilson brothers studio last summer. Sorry it’s taken me so long to put up, hopefully you bleeding edge cool kids don’t think it’s too last year.

Basically, it’s a mobile cafe, for cyclists, that stops in European cities and give cyclists the opportunity to meet, share experience and enjoy a coffee. Something that is becoming increasingly popular with the advent of ‘Look Mum No Hands’ and the like. Not only does it absolutely capture the zeitgeist for cycling (and coffee) it does so in a way that doesn’t ram Rapha down yer throat, which is always nice in the context of a brand funded project. It also looks absolutely fucking awesome, which helps.

This appeals to me on SO many levels. Bikes, community, creativity all beautifully shot by the guys at California is a place. Well, California IS one hell of a place, especially if they keep putting out films like this! Annoyingly, I can’t move out to Oakland and i’m not under seven years old so I can’t be in their gang. But maybe I could be their London faction? I really want a t-shirt too…

“In order to become a member of the Original Scraper Bike Team, you must: Be a resident of Oakland, CA. Be at least 7y/o or older. Retain A 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA), Create your own Scraper Bike…(It Has To Be Amazing, Or Else You Can’t Ride.) A single-file line when riding. After 10 rides The Scraper Bike King and his Captains will decide if your bike is up to standards and if you can follow simple guidelines. After your evaluation we will consider you a member and honor you with an Original Scraper Bike Team Shirt. Only worn when Mobbin’ Stay posted to our website for all upcoming Scraper Bike Rides…” — The Scraper Bike King